Steam bath

ABSTRACT

A STEAM BATH WITH CABINET NORMALLY PERMANENTLY JOINED TO A WALL, OR BUILT INTO A RECESS IN A WATER, ADJACENT A BATHTUB, THE CABINET BEING FOLDABLE INTO A CLOSED COMPACT UNIT AND HAVING SWINGING DOORS WHICH OPEN TO REST UPON SIDES OF THE BATHTUB DURING USE TO EXPOSE A MAN-ENCLOSING FLEXIBLE ENVELOPE, SUCH AS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERVIOUS FABRIC, ATTACHABLE TO THE DOORS TO CAUSE THE ENVELOPE TO DRAPE INTO THE BATHTUB. A FOLDING, INTERNALLY ATTACHED SEAT IS SHIFTED FROM A COLLAPSED INTO A HORIZONTAL DISPOSITION AND IS SECURED TO THE DOORS IN THEIR OPEN POSITION, AND STRUCTURE   IS PROVIDED FOR SAFELY GENERATING AND THEREAFTER INTRODUCING STEAM WITHIN THE ENVELOPE.

S. MILLINER STEAM BATH June 1 1971 Filed Aug. 26, 1968 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1lIlI INVENTOR. SHIRMAN MkER ATTORNEY Julie 1, 1971 s, MILUNER 3,581,315

STEAM BATH Filed Aug. 26, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SHIRIMANMILLINER ATTORNEY S. MILLINER June 1, 1-971 STEAM EAT}! 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Aug. 26. 196 8 INVIiN'HDR. SHIRMAN MILL! R BY Z 7 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent Ofice 358L315 Patented June 1, 1971 3,581,315 STEAM BATHShirman Milliner, 610 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102Filed Aug. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 755,305 Int. Cl. A61h 33/10 US. Cl. 4-16217 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A steam bath with cabinet normallypermanently joined to a wall, or built into a recess in a wall, adjacenta bathtub, the cabinet being foldable into a closed compact unit andhaving swinging doors which open to rest upon sides of the bathtubduring use to expose a man-enclosing flexible envelope, such assubstantially impervious fabric, attachable to the doors to cause theenvelope to drape into the bathtub. A folding, internally attached seatis shifted from a collapsed into a horizontal disposition and is securedto the doors in their open position, and structure is provided forsafely generating and thereafter introducing steam within the envelope.

The invention relates to steam bath and more particularly to a compactsteam bath attached to or within a wall adjacent a conventional bathtuband conveniently foldable between an open, usable position disposed inpart within the bathtub and a closed, out-of-the-way position.

Conventional steam baths for home use have not become widely acceptedand used largely because they have proved to be expensive, cumbersome touse and difficult and awkward to store when not in use. At times, theuse of bathtubs having special attaching devices to suspend a fabric lidis required. Moreover, a safe, economical and eflicient means of makingsteam available for home use has not, until this present invention, beenavailable.

It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome orsubstantially alleviate the problems of the prior art, particularly ofthe type mentioned above.

The present invention comprises novel steam bath structure which is anattractive addition to the decor of a bathroom and, in a closed,inactive condition, preferably occupies only narrow space along a wallin the bathroom and which has swinging doors capable of being opened andcooperating with a conventional bathtub to maintain an attachedman-enclosing envelope is a desired disposition during use. The envelopeis concealed behind the closed doors during non-use. A folding seat,normally enclosed within the envelope, is provided along with structurefor safely generating and delivering steam to the interior of theman-enclosing envelope.

iIt is therefore another primary object of the present invention toprovide novel steam bath unit.

Another significant object is the provision of novel foldable steam bathstructure which unfolds into a bathtub or the like for use and foldsinto a compact unit adjacent the bathtub during non-use.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide animproved, economical comfortable, safe steam bath for human use.

Another meaningful object of the present invention is to provide aunique steam cabinet which is permanently attached to a wall adjacent aconventional bathtub.

One still further object of the present invention is to provide a uniquesteam cabinet having doors which rest upon the upper edge of aconventional bathtub and attach to a steam-receiving flexable envelopeto restrain the envelope in a suitable disposition during use.

A further and no less important object of the present invention is toprovide novel seat structure for a steam bath which is adapted to attachto swinging doors when the doors are in an open position and which seatis easily folded into a compact, hidden position when not in use.

It is one still further object of the present invention to provide anovel steam bath for home use which accommodates safe, efiicientcommunication of steam to the interior of a man-enclosing envelope.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates in top perspective one presently preferred steam bathembodiment of this invention in folded, compact position attached to avertical wall adjacent a conventional bathtub;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective representation of the steam cabinetembodiment of 'FIG. 1 in the unfolded condition, ready for use withparts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective representation with parts broken away fromclarity of another presently preferred steam bath embodiment of this.invention used in conjunction with a conventional bathtub and shown inthe open, ready-to-be-used position;

FIG. 10 represents in top perspective the steam cabinet embodiment ofFIG. 9 in partially folded condition;

'FIG. 11 is a partial cross-section taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevation viewed along lines 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of steamcommunicating tubingand related structure adapted to be used with the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section taken along lines 14-14 of 'FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a transverse cross-section taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 9.

One presently preferred embodiment of the steam bath of the presentinvention is illustrated in folded, compact condition above the back endof a conventional bathtub in FIG. 1 and is generally designated 20. Thesteam bath 20 occupies only a narrow space adjacent or within a wallwhen not in use, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The steam bath 20 comprisessupport structure in the form of an essentially rigid cabinet 21including an essentially rectangularlyshaped frame 24 and a frontportion comprising hingedlyconnected doors 26 and 28. The frame 24 anddoors 26 and 28 are preferably formed from suitable synthetic material,such as resin impregnated fiberglass. The doors 26 and 28 and the frame24 may be exteriorly and/or interiorly ornamentally decorated and/ orcolored to contribute to the decor of the room in which the steam bathis to be situated. It is presently preferred that the steam bath 20 bepermanently fixed in the position essentially as shown in FIG. 1adjacent a bathroom wall by suitably passing screws through the backwall 23 of the cabinet 21 and the plaster or wall board into the studsof the bathroom wall. See FIG. 6. Alternatively, the steam cabinet 20may be recessed and screwed or otherwise secured within the bathroomwall so that the doors 26 and 28 are flush or nearly flush with thewall.

The doors 26 and 28 are maintained in closed position preferably byaction of magnetic latches 29 and 31 (FIG. 2) located on the frame 24and metal plates 33 and 34 respectively located near one corner on thedoors 26 and 28. The magnetic latches will yield to a separating forceto allow the doors 26 and 28 to pivot at the hinges 30 and 32 to theopen position shown in FIG. 2. The doors 26 and 28 at the bottom carrysupports or feet 25, respectively (FIG. 8), which, when the doors areopened, rest on the respective horizontally-disposed upper side edgeportions 35 and 36 of the bathtub 22. The feet 25 are screw connected tobottom lips 27 of the doors 26 and 28 respectively.

A steam-receiving human being-enclosing envelope or bag 38 of flexible,Water and steam impervious fabric or the like is folded and storedbehind the doors 26 and 28 during non-use. When doors are open to theposition of FIG. 2, the envelope 38 is allowed to freely fall down untilthe bottom floor at 37 f the envelope rests against the floor 40 of thebathtub 22.

The envelope 38 is preferably formed of fabric material treated so as tobe water repellant and impervious to steam. Although treated fabricmaterial is presently preferred, clearly other materials such asflexible plastic and other suitable flexible materials could be used.

The top of the envelope 3 8 at the back is preferably attached to theinside of the back 23 of the cabinet 21 by snap fasteners 39 and 41(FIG. '6) or other suitable detachable connectors. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 8, the envelope 38 becomes disposed in a suspendedpredetermined erect shape by attaching the top of the envelope 38 at thefront corners 50 and 52 to the doors 26 and 28, respectively. Morespecifically, the corner portions 50 and 52 are each provided with afemale snap connection 54 which is adapted to alternatively be receivedby a mating male snap connection 56, 58 or 60 serially, Verticallydisposed on the doors 26 and 28, depending on the size of personintending to use the steam bath. Thus, the position of the cornerportions 50 and 52 of the envelope 38 are attachable to the doors 26 and28 at any one of three locations to accommodate a selection of apreferred at-rest spread and draped erect configuration for the envelope38. The envelope 38 is also provided at the top 42 thereof with anessentially circular, central aperture 44 (FIG. 2) adapted to expose tothe exterior the neck and head of a person using the steam bath 20. Theenvelope 38 is longitudinally openable from the inside or the outside byway of a zippered or otherwise partable opening 46 connecting theaperture 44 to the bottom 37 of the envelope 38. The zippered opening 46accommodates ingress into and egress from the envelope 38 by the personusing the steam bath 20.

A seat 62 (shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and is arcuately displaceable from anessentially vertical position adjacent the back of the frame 24 (notshown) to an essentially horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.The seat 62 is rotatably connected by U-shaped brackets 68 and 70 (FIG.4) to a rigid, hollow tube 72. The hollow tube 72 is fixed to and passesthrough the frame 24 at connections 64 and 66, which also seal betweenthe tube 72 and the frame 24. The fabric envelope 38 is provided withapertures (not shown) through which the tube 72 passes to reachconnections '64 and 66. The tube hollow 72 is shown in FIG. 3 as havingspaced steam ports 74 directed essentially horizontally underneath theseat "62, when the seat 62 is rotated to the horizontal position. Thetube '72 is threaded at one end 76 (FIG. 3) and is adapted to receive aplug 78 at the other end '80. The trailing end 76 is connected by meansof a threaded coupling 82 to a steaminlet tube 84 in a conventionalmaner. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the steam-inlet tube 84 is connected toa conventional steam generator 86. Although other suitable types ofsteam generators could be used, one presently preferred steam generatoris a vaporizer known as the De Vilbiss Model 142 Electric SteamGenerator, manufactured by 4 the De Vilbiss Company of Somerset, Pa. Thesteam generator, advantageously, may be used at a location remote fromthe steam cabinet and envelope so that any danger of electrical shock,which might be possible if water or steam condensate were in contactwith the electrical parts of the generator, is substantially avoided.

When the seat 62 is in the horizontal position, the seat is capable ofholding the weight of the person using the steam cabinet by a lockingmechanism in the form of laterally extendable-latch dogs 88 and 90(FIGS. 5 and 8) of rods 89 and 91 located adjacent the forward edge 92of the seat 62. Each latch 88 and 90 extends laterally beyond therespective ends 94 and 96 of a hollow tube 98. The hollow tube 98 isintegrally secured to the seat 62 and is provided with an axial slot 100communicating the hollow of the tube with the exterior. The lower edgeof the slot 100 is provided with a plurality of arcuate notches 102which are adapted to receive pins 104 and 106, respectively rigidlyconnected, as by threads, to the centrally-disposed ends 93 and of therods 89 and 91. See FIGS. 5 and 7. The rods 89 and 91 along with thelatch dogs 88 and 90 are laterally movable in the hollow of the tube 98when the latches 88 and 90 are rotated so that the pins 104 and 106 areout of the grooves 102 and centrally disposed within the slot 100. Whenit is desired for the latch dogs '88 and 90 to be secured to the doors26 and 28 to support the user, the respective rods 89 and 91 need merelyto be rotated and extended, with the front edge of the seat slightlyelevated so that the seat does not lie in a horizontal plane, until thelatch dogs 88 and 90 are respectively in alignment with the hollowinterior or female receptacle of brackets 112 and 114 carried by eachdoor. Then the pins 104 and 106 are rotated into engagement with theadjacent notches 102 and the dogs are lowered into the brackets 112 and114, respectively. The brackets 112 and 114 are respectively attached todoors 26 and 28 by screws 116 or the like (FIG. 8). The brackets 112 and114 are presented to the interior of the envelope 38 through apertures(not shown) suitably fabricated in the envelope 38. It should beobserved, therefore, that by lateral extension or retraction of thelatches 88 and 90, the seat 62 may be attached in a generally horizontalposition even though the doors 26 and 28 may be resting upon tub edges35 and 36 in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the frame24.

Thus, erection and use of the steam bath 20 is easily accomplished byopening the doors 26 and 28 and resting the lower edge of each doorrespectively upon the edges 35 and 36 of the bathtub 22. The envelope 38will automatically fall to the floor 40 of the bathtub 22 and theenvelope is in a spread, draped condition by attaching snap fasteners 54at the corners 50 and 52, respectively, to the related matching snapfasteners 56, '58 or 60 on each door 26 and 28. The zipper tab 48 isactuated to open the envelope 38 at opening 46 and the person using thesteam cabinet positions the seat 62 by arcuately displacing the seat 62from the vertical to the horizontal positron. The rods 89 and 91 arerotated to disengage 104 and 106 from grooves 102 and therebyaccommodate free axial movement thereof. The dogs 88 and 90 of rods 89and 91 are fitted into the hollow of the adjacent bracket 112 or 114,respectively, attached to the doors 26 and 28. When the latch dogs '88and 90 are so connected to the brackets 112 or 114, the person canactuate the steam generator 86 causing steam to enter the envelop 38through ports 74 in tube 72, place himself upon the seat 62, positionhis neck and head in the aperture 44 and close the zlpper-opening 46.The reverse of these steps, including folding of the envelope 38 intothe cabinet 21, provides for easy, out-of-the-way compact storage of thesteam bath 20.

Another presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustratedin FIGS. 9-15. With reference to FIG. 9, a steam bath, generallydesignated 120, comprises support structure in the form of a cabinet121, preferably formed of resin impregnated fiberglass or wood with atreated fiberglass or plastic external veneer. In the closed position,the external appearance of steam bath 120 is very similar to that ofsteam bath 20. The steam bath 120 is preferably permanently attached toor in a wall adjacent a conventional bathtub 22 in one of the waysheretofore mentioned in conjunction with steam bath 20.

The cabinet 121 of the steam bath 120 comprises a rectangular frame 122,a back wall 123 and openable doors 124 and 126 pivotally-attached to theframe 122 by conventional hinges 128 and 130. The doors 124 and 126 eachhave a peripherally thickened border 115 which defines an interiorcentral recess 116. Also, doors 124 and 126 have on the lower edgethereof supports or feet 119 which are essentially the same as feet 25heretofore described in connection with steam bath 20, and whichsimilarly engage the upper edges 35 and 36 of the tub 22 when the doorsare open. The steam bath 120 also comprises an envelope or bag 132,preferably formed of a lightweight, flexible water and steam imperviousplastic material suspended, for example, at the top near the back fromthe cabinet 121 by snap fasteners 137 (FIG. 12) in the manner heretoforedescribed. The doors 124 and 126 are maintained in a closed condition bymagnetic latches 129 and 131 mounted to frame 122 and associated metalplates 133 and 135 carried by the doors. The top 134 of the envelope 132is provided with a central, neck-receiving aperture 136 and alongitudinally disposed closable opening 138. The opening 138 is madeclosable or partable by a zipper or the like. The purpose for theaperture 136 and the opening 138 is substantially identical to thosedescribed in relation to the aperture 44 and the opening 46.

At least a portion of the bottom or floor 140 of the envelope 13.2 isprovided with a mesh or screen 141, which allows water accumulating ascondensed steam within the envelope 132 to pass out of the envelope 132into the floor 40 of the tub 22 without allowing steam to readily passtherethrough.

Steam conveying conduit structure 142 provides for introduction of steamat spaced locations into the interior of the envelope 132 adjacent thefloor 140. The steam ingress conduit structure 142, best shown in FIGS.9, 13 and 14, comprises a supply tube 144 which is interposed betweenthe steam generator 86 and an enlarged female coupling 171. The coupling171 is secured to the tube 144 by a suitable bonding agent or adhesive 143 such as epoxy resin. The coupling is connected to a T-connector 146by forcing the shank 173 of the connector 146 into an aperture 175centrally disposed in the face 190 of the coupling 171 until a press-fitrelation is formed around the annular recess 177 in the shank 173, theT-connector communicating the steam from without to within the envelope132 adjacent the floor 140. The T-connector is preferably nylon andconducts steam received from a conventional steam generator 86 toselected portions of the interior of the envelope 132 by plastic tubes147 and 148. The tubes 147 and 148 are respectively press-fit ontohollow arms 149 and 151 of the T-connector 146 so that steam conductedthrough the tube 144 will be conducted in similar amounts through tubes147 and 148 adjacent the wall-floor juncture 150. If desired the tubes147 and 148 may be secured, as by sleeves of fabric to the envelope tomaintain the tubes in desired dispositions within the envelope. Thesteam originating at the steam generator 86 is passed into the supplytube 144 through a nozzle 152 (FIG. 15) attached to and projecting fromthe steam generator 86. The nozzle 152 is preferably a rigid plastictube, such as nylon, having an annular recess 153 adjacent the leadingend 155 thereof and another annular recess 157 adjacent the trailing end159 thereof. The nozzle 152 is forced into an enlarged aperture 161located in the cap 87 of the steam generator 86 until a restrainedpress-fit relation is formed between the periphery of the aperture 161and the recess 157. The nozzle 152 is also provided with a downwardlyprojecting flange 163 which is secured by a screw 165 to lip 83 of a cupintegral with the cap 87. The annular recess 153 in leading end of thenozzle 152 receives the centrally disposed aperture 181 in the face 192of female coupling 179 in restrained press-fit relation, the femalecoupling 179 being bonded to the tube 144 by epoxy resin or othersuitable adhesive.

Referring again to FIG. 9, a foldable seat 154 is illustrated in asubstantially horizontal position within the envelope 132. The seat 154may be located in the horizontal position by arcuate displacement from anon-use folded, generally vertical position accommodated by flexiblehinge 143, preferably a one-piece polypropylene strip having a centrallyaxial reduced thickness, folding portion 145 which separates a flange199 of the hinge 143 attached to the seat from the flange 167 attachedto the lower portion of the frame 122. The seat 154 is connected byscrews to the flange 199 of the hinge. The frame 122 is similarlyconnected by screws to the flange 167.

The seat 154 is provided with locking mechanism in the form of laterallyextendable latch dogs 156 adjacent the leading edge 158 thereof. Thedogs 156 comprise the terminal ends of two identical though oppositehand rods, similar in purpose, structure and appearance to thepreviously described rods 89 and 91. FIG. 11 illustrates one such latchdog structure; however, it should be understood that the same latchstructure exists adjacent both side portions 166 of the seat 154. Thus,only one dog 156 will be described. Referring to FIG. 11, theillustrated rod of which latch dog 156 forms a part is slidably disposedwithin a hollow cylindrical tube which is rigidly carried within theseat 154 adjacent the leading or front edge 158 thereof. The dog 156extends from a transverse notch 164 in the side 166 of the seat 154.When the cabinet 121 is in folded condition the dog 156, with the rodthereof retracted, fits within notch 164. When the cabinet 121 iesunfolded and the seat 154 is displaced to a generally horizontalposition the dog 156 laterally extends through the aperture 191 in thefabric 132 for attachment to the door 124 in a manner hereinafter morefully described. The dog 156 is provided with only one transverse groove168 existing in a vertical plane. The location of the groove 168 isselected so that the dog 156 will be disposed in a female receptacle inthe form of a blind bore 174 in the adjacent door 124 when the door 124is in the open position. If desired, the dog 156 could be provided withmore than one groove 168 to provide for a selection of door positionsduring use.

A resilient spring member 170, embedded at one cut within the seat 154at 162, is adapted to be biased to project at the other end through anaperture 172 in the hollow cylinder 160 and into the groove 168 when therod with the dog 156 and grooves 168 face vertically downward, the rodbeing rotatable to disengage the groove 168 from the spring 170. Thus,when the dog 156 is turned vertically downward, the spring member willengage the groove 168 and prevent axial displacement of the rod of whichdog 156 is a part, thereby maintaining the locked relation between thedog 156 and blind bore 174. When the dog 156 is turned to an essentiallyhorizontal position, the spring member 170 will be forced out ofengagement with the groove 16 8 and onto the smooth exterior of the rodpermitting easy axial displacement of the rod.

When the doors 124 and 126 have been opened sufficiently to permit thefeet 119 to rest upon the upper edge surfaces 35 and 3 6 of the bathtub22, the rods terminating in dogs 156 may be rotated to the horizontalplane and axially extended until the dogs 156 are in generally verticalalignment with the blind bores 174 of the open doors. Thereafter, eachrod is rotated until the associated dog 156 is vertically disposed andthe rods are axially locked in position by engagement of springs 170with grooves 168. Each dog 156 is then inserted into the adjacent blindbore 174 locked in the border 115 adjacent the recess 116 in each door124 and 126.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12, during periods of non-use, theenvelope 132. may be folded compactly within the frame 122, the front,bottom corner portions 176 and 178 of the envelope 132 being temporarilyattachable to the upper corners 180 and 182 of the frame 122 by hook andring structure 183 best illustrated in FIG. 12. While preferably twohook and ring structures 183 are used, only one will be described. Thehook and ring structure 183 comprises a hook 184 fixed by screws or thelike to the corner 180 and 182 of the frame 122 and a ring 186 connectedby means of a fabric loop to the lower front corner 176 and 178 of theenvelope 1.32. The temporary attachment provided by the hook and ring 183 structure is advantageous to prevent the envelope 132 fromautomatically falling from the frame 122 when the doors 124 and 126 areopened and to make it easier to restrain the envelope in the foldedposition within the frame 122 as the doors 124 and 126 are closed.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 is unfolded and used in essentially the samemanner as the embodiment of FIG. 1 except, in the unfolding step, theenvelope will not fall to the floor by itself when the doors 124 and 126are opened. Therefore, each ring 186 must be removed from the adjacenthook 184 before the envelope 132 will fall to the floor 40 of the tub22. Thereafter, the upper front corners 193 and 195 of the envelope 132are attached at 188 and 18 9 respectively to open doors 124 and 126adjacent the upper distal corners thereof by snap fasteners which aresubstantially similar to female snap fasteners 54 and male fasteners 56,-8 and 60 previously described.

The present invention, above-described, provides an improved steamcabinet which is easily assembled and, after use, is foldable into acompact, decorative bathroom fixture. Moreover, it is apparent from theforegoing that a safe, convenient steam cabinet structure has beenprovided which is easily and conveniently used with a conventionalbathtub or like structure. Also, it has been found that the presentinvention retains the steam within the interior of the envelope so thatthe bathrom atmosphere remains relatively dry and, therefore, the walls,mirrors and other surfaces in the bathroom do not collect condensedsteam.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. In a collapsible steam bath for use with a conventional bathtub, thesteam bath comprising cabinet means including a frame adapted to beattached to a wall above and adjacent the bathtub and door means joinedto the frame means and movable from a closed to an open position duringuse of the steam bath; seat means movably carried by the cabinet meansso that the seat means can be shifted from a compact position within thecabinet means to a position extending beyond the location of the doormeans when closed and presenting a generally horizontally-disposed seatsurface in the extending position; flexible envelope means substantiallyenclosing the seat means and separating the seat means from the doormeans, the envelope means being foldable into the cabinet means forstorage during non-use and unfolded during use, and, spaced attachmentmeans carried at the interior of the cabinet means coupled to otherspaced attachment means carried at the exterior of the envelope means soas to suspend the envelope means from the interior of cabinet means intothe bathtub during use such that a person may situate his body upon theseat surface and be confined within the envelope means; and

means for communicating steam to the interior of the envelope means.

2. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 wherein said door meanscomprise a pair of essentially vertically-dis posed doors hinged to theframe means and, when open, are respectively adapted to rest uponopposed upper side surfaces of the bathtub.

3. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat means areessentially planar, are hingedly-attached to the cabinet means adjacentthe rear edge of the seat means and are provided with latch structuresadjacent the leading edge of the seat means for latching the seat meansin the extending position and for causing the load imposed by the useron the seat means adjacent the leading edge thereof to be transferredthrough the latch structure to the bathtub during use.

4. In a steam bath as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch structurecomprises angularly-extending laterallydisposed spaced dogs, eachlaterally movable and adapted to be received by a female receptaclecarried by the door means.

5. In a steam bath as defined in claim 4 wherein said dogs eachcomprises an L-shaped rod which is axially restrained by lockingstructure carried by the seat means in an extended position when thedogs are rotated into a generally vertically-extending plane and whichare released by the locking structure for axial displacement relative tothe seat means when rotated substantially out of saidvertically-extending plane.

6. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 wherein said envelope meanscomprise a treated fabric which is detachably connected by theattachment means to the frame means and the door means at spacedlocations interior of the frame means and door means during use to holdthe fabric in a spread draped condition, the fabric further comprising aclosable opening for ingress and egress of the user.

7. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 wherein said envelope meanscomprise a water pervious portion disposed at the bottom thereof toallow condensed steam to drain as water from the envelope means into thebathtub.

8. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 further comprising a steamgenerator located remote from both the cabinet means and the envelopemeans toavoid any risk of electrically shocking the user and whichdelivers steam to the steam communicating means.

9. In a steam bath as defined in claim 8 wherein the steam generatorcomprises a portable vaporizer.

10. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 wherein the steamcommunicating means comprises a tube forming part of the seat means andhaving at least one port for introducing steam received by the hollowinterior of the tube through the port into the envelope means.

11. In a steam bath as defined in claim 1 wherein the steamcommunicating means comprises hollow tubing disposed adjacent the floorof the envelope means which delivers steam to the interior of theenvelope means at spaced positions adjacent the floor of the envelopemeans and the feet of the user.

12. A bath for containing steam and the like comprising a cabinetcomprising a relatively narrow rigid frame having a predeterminedvertical dimension, means for mounting the cabinet to a vertical wallsupport, and swinging door structure having essentially the samevertical dimension as the rigid frame, a generally moistureimperviousflexible receptacle, the swinging door structure closing to conceal theinterior of the frame and opening to accommodate unfolding andvertically lowering of the concealed receptacle of sheet material frombehind the door structure until the receptacle extends well below theframe and door structure and presents a vertical dimension substantiallygreater than the vertical dimension of the frame and door structure, thereceptacle circumscribing and confining the body of the user and beingdetachably connected by fastener means to the interior of the cabinet atspaced locations in the unfolded, erect condition during use of thebath, the flexible receptacle being interrupted by a generally closableopening therein accommodating ingress and egress of the user andexposure of the users head during operation, and means for issuing steaminto the interior of the receptacle.

13. In a method of installing and using a bath for containing steam andthe like: mounting a cabinet to a vertical wall adjacent and immediatelyabove a bathtub, swinging door structure of the cabinet above the topedge of the bathtub from a contiguous position with a stationarygenerally vertical frame of the cabinet to an open position andmaintaining the door structure in the open position by supportstructure, mounting a flexible userenclosing receptacle of sheetmaterial to the interior of the cabinet, unfolding and lowering thereceptacle of sheet material from within the frame into an erectdisposition extending well below the frame into the bathtub, thereceptacle being releasably attached to the frame and the door structureat spaced locations interior of the frame and door structure, shifting aseat from a vertical position within the frame which is parallel to theframe to a second position to present a generally horizontalusersupporting surface essentially completely surrounded by thereceptacle.

14. In a method as defined in claim 13 wherein said seat shifting stepcomprises locking the front portion of the seat in load-transferringrelation to the support structure.

15. In a method as defined in claim 13 further comprising attachingelevated portions of the receptacle by releasable fasteners to elevatedportions of the door structure.

16. A bath for containing steam and the like comprising a cabinet havinga frame, means mounting the frame to a wall or like structure, opposedswinging doors which close edge-to-edge to form the front face of thecabinet and which are oppositely hinged to the frame and oppositelyrotate to open the cabinet, a seat pivotally carried by the frame formovement from a vertical inactive position to a generally horizontalposition during use, means supporting the seat in the horizontalposition, a generally vertically erect bather-enclosing receptaclecapable of being concealed behind the swinging doors within the frame ina folded condition when not in use, the receptacle being substantiallylonger and extending well below the bottom of the frame when thereceptacle is unfolded and erect, the receptacle being carried by theframe and comprised at least principally of flexible essentiallyimpervious material, the receptacle being substantially enclosed forencircling the seat, the receptacle being interrupted by a partableingress and egress opening and by means for placing the bathcrs headoutside the receptacle during use, and means for issuing steam into theinterior of the receptacle.

17. In a collapsible steam bath comprising a rigid, essentiallyrectangular frame adapted to be disposed adjacent one end of a bathtub,the frame having a central recess bounded by a transversely enlargedperipheral 'border;

a pair of openable doors, one hingedly connected to the peripheralborder on each side of the frame, the doors each being provided withholding latch structure which cooperates with latch structure on theframe to maintain the doors in a closed position and at least one footpedestal on the bottom edge of each door adapted to rest on the upperside edge of the bathtub when the doors are in open position;

an essentially unitary steam bather-receiving envelope of foldablematerial comprising a back detachably connected to the frame at spacedlocations within the recess, sides removably attachable to the opendoors adjacent the distal top corners, a top having an aperture adaptedto receive the neck of the steam bather, a front comprising a partableopening beginning at the aperture in the top and extending through asubstantial length of the front of the envelope to accommodate ingressand egress of the bather and a floor comprising a mesh drain to allowsteam condensate to drain from the envelope, the envelope being (a)completely confinable and concealed within the recess when the materialis folded into the recess and the doors are closed and (b) openable intoa suspended erect condition for use when the envelope is unfolded and soconnected and attached;

a foldable seat connected to the frame adjacent the recess by a plastichinge having a reduced thickness fold line accommodating selectivearcuate displacement of the seat into and out of the recess, the seatcomprising latch dogs, each dog being laterally extendable to bedetachably connected in a female receptable to one of the doors when theseat is arcuately displaced to a horizontal position, the latch dogsbeing selectively laterally restrained in a selected extended positionaccommodating alignment of the latch dogs and the female receptacle; and

steam delivery structure which communicates remotely generated steam tothe envelope and releases steam within the envelope at a plurality oflocations adjacent the feet of the steam bather.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HENRY K. ARTIS, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R,

